Spring loaded accessory hub

ABSTRACT

An accessory hub joins accessories such as towel bars and robe hooks to a wall. In order to attach the accessory to the wall, a collet is fastened to the wall. The accessory hub may be joined to the collet with a spring-loaded button extending from the collet that is inserted into a receiver in the accessory hub. A first cleat portion on the collet mates with a second cleat portion on the accessory hub further securing the accessory hub to the collet. The accessory may then be attached to the accessory hub. The accessory hub may be detached from the collet without damaging the wall by depressing the button into the collet and disengaging the first and second cleat portions.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.16/825,846, filed Mar. 20, 2020; which is a continuation of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 15/939,961, filed Mar. 29, 2018, now U.S. Pat. No.10,634,280; which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser.No. 62/480,829, filed Apr. 3, 2017; the entire contents of which areexpressly incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention is related to the field bathroom accessory devices. Moreparticularly, the invention is related to the field of bathroomaccessory attachment devices.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Existing accessory mounting systems typically use drywall anchors tomount the accessory device to a wall. Removal of the accessory devicesrequires a large force to remove the accessory hub from the wall mount.This removal process often causes drywall anchors to strip therebyleaving a stripped hole in the wall, which makes mounting anotheraccessory to the wall difficult and leaves the subsequent installationloosely attached to the wall.

What is therefore needed is an accessory mounting device that is easilyattached to a wall and also easily removed. Further, what is needed isan accessory attachment device that may be removed without significantforce which is known to cause damage to plasterboard walls.

SUMMARY AND OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

An accessory mounting device attaches an accessory hub to a wall. Themounting device includes an accessory hub with a plurality of sides anda rear portion. The rear portion of the accessory hub has an open andhollow recess with a first cleat portion. The first cleat portionprovides a mount to secure the accessory hub to the wall. In order toattach the first cleat portion to a wall, a collet is first attached tothe wall. The collet includes a first mounting tab and a second mountingtab, each with a hole. A fastener is placed through each hole to attachthe collet to the wall. The collet may then be inserted into, orcovered-up, by the open and hollow recess of the accessory hub. The tipof the first mounting tab also forms a second cleat portion that engagesthe first cleat portion of the accessory hub. Any downward motion of theaccessory hub is therefore prevented once the first cleat portion andthe second cleat portion are engaged.

A button is also included with the body of the collet. The button canslide along an internal bore within the body. The button is displaceablefrom a home position where it extends from the body of the collet to adisplaced position where the button is displaced into the bore and bodyof the collet. The button may be displaced with a manual depression andautomatically returned to the home position following termination of themanual depression by a spring within a bore of the body of the collet. Aspring retainer threads into the bore and prevents both the spring andthe button from falling out of the bore of the collet.

The accessory hub may include an optional hole in one of the pluralityof sides of the accessory hub allowing the button to be at leastpartially accessible through the hole. The accessory hub may be removedfrom the collet by depressing the button and disengaging the first cleatportion from the second cleat portion. Similarly, the accessory hub maybe retained by the collet when the button depressed to the displacedposition and the first cleat portion is engaged with the second cleatportion and the button is released to the home position and into thehole through the side of the accessory hub, thereby protruding throughthe hole. The first cleat portion and the second cleat portion work intandem to prevent the accessory hub from being detached from the collet,which is secured to the wall by a fastener.

The accessory hub receives a plurality of accessories including at leastone of a towel bar, a towel ring, a soap tray, a tissue holder, atumbler holder, and a robe hook. The accessory hub is interchangeablewith any one of the accessories.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present disclosure will be described hereafter with reference to theattached drawings which are given as non-limiting examples only, inwhich:

FIG. 1 shows a top-perspective view of an accessory hub according to theinvention;

FIG. 2 shows a perspective, exploded view of the accessory hub of FIG. 1showing the collet, spring, button, and spring retainer;

FIG. 3 shows a top view of the accessory hub of FIG. 1 with the sectionline AA;

FIG. 4 shows a side view of the accessory hub of FIG. 1 along sectionline AA shown in FIG. 5;

FIG. 5 shows a bottom-perspective view of the accessory hub of FIG. 1,revealing the underside of the accessory hub;

FIG. 6 shows multiple, top and side perspective views of the collet ofFIG. 2; and

FIG. 7 shows multiple perspective views of the spring retainer of FIG.2.

In the drawings, some structural or method features may be shown inspecific arrangements and/or orderings. However, it should beappreciated that such specific arrangements and/or orderings may not berequired. Rather, in some embodiments, such features may be arranged ina different manner and/or order than shown in the illustrative figures.Additionally, the inclusion of a structural or method feature in aparticular figure is not meant to imply that such feature is required inall embodiments and, in some embodiments, may not be included or may becombined with other features.

Corresponding reference characters in the drawings indicatecorresponding parts throughout the several views. The exemplificationset out herein illustrates embodiments of the invention, and suchexemplification is not to be construed as limiting the scope of theinvention in any manner.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 shows the accessory hub 10. The accessory hub 10 includes sides12 extending from foundation 8. The sides 12 taper from the foundation 8up to the extension 14. The extension 14 includes a mount 16. The mount16 can accept a fastener for attachment to an accessory such as a towelbar, tissue holder, tumbler holder, towel ring, robe hook, or the like.Multiple accessory hubs 10 may also be used for larger accessories. Theaccessory hub 10 may also be shaped in any other shape, such asspherical, rectangular, or the like, without departing from the spiritof the invention.

The invention is best shown in FIG. 2 which is an exploded view of theaccessory hub 10. The collet 18 includes a first mounting tab 22 and asecond mounting tab 20. Each mounting tab includes a hole 28, 26 thataccepts a fastener. The fastener secures the collet 18 to a wall andforms the anchor point for the accessory hub 10. Preferably, the firstmounting tab 22 is placed vertically and pointing upwards with the firstcleat portion 24 oriented upwards along the wall. The first cleatportion 24 mates with a second cleat portion 38 within the accessory hub10, best shown in FIG. 5. The first cleat portion 24, along with abutton 36 effectively retain the accessory hub 10 mounted to a wall.

The button 36 may be depressed into the body 30 of the collet 18. Aspring 32 within the body 30 maintains a force on the button 36 thatreturns it to a home position once it is depressed. During assembly ofthe collet, the spring is inserted into the body through a bore 43, bestshown in FIG. 6, the button 36 is then inserted into the bore 43. Thebore 43 is a blind hole, in that it does not go completely through thebody 30 of the collet 18. As a result, the spring 32 bottoms out withinthe bore 43. The spring retainer 34 is then fastened to the bore andretains the spring and the button 36 within the bore 43. A through hole48 allows the button 36 to extend out of the bore 43. A shoulder 49 hasa larger diameter than the rest of the button 36. The shoulder 49therefore contacts the spring retainer and prevents the button 36 fromexiting the bore 43. The button 36 can be depressed with a manual forceto push it into the bore 43. Once the manual depression is removed, thespring will urge the button 36 back out of the bore 43. When the button36 is protruding from the bore 43 it is in the home position. When thebutton 36 is depressed further into the bore 43 thereby compressing thespring 32 it is in the depressed position.

The button 36 is best shown installed in FIG. 4, which is a sectionalview along section line AA, as seen in FIG. 3. FIG. 4 shows theaccessory hub 10 and exposes the recess 46. In this view, the collet 18is secured to a wall 21 with fasteners (not shown) inserted through thehole 26 in the first mounting tab 22. Once the collet 18 is fastened tothe wall 21, the accessory hub 10 is attached to the collet 18 by firstplacing the first cleat portion 24 of the first mounting tab 22 againstthe second cleat portion 38 of the accessory hub 10. The second cleatportion 38 is formed within the recess 46 along the foundation 8. Thesecond cleat portion 38 is angled to match the angle formed by the firstcleat portion 24. The angled portions form a connection that prevents adownward motion of the accessory hub 10 thereby holding it in place.

To prevent the lower part of the accessory hub 10 from separating fromthe wall 21, the button 36 extends into a receiver 44. A ramp 40displaces the button from the home position, which is extended, to thedepressed position within the bore 43. This is done by first joining thefirst cleat portion 24 to the second cleat portion 38 and then pivotingthe ramp 40 and receiver 44 towards the button 36, while maintaining thefirst cleat portion 24 and second cleat portion 38 in contact. Once thebutton contacts the ramp 40, the angle of the ramp 40 urges the button36 into the bore 43 compressing the spring 32. Once the foundation 8 ofthe accessory hub 10 is flush against the wall 21, the button 36 extendsback to the extended, home position and into the receiver 44. The button36, receiver 44, first cleat portion 24, and second cleat portion 38 allwork together to retain the foundation 8 of the accessory hub 10 againstthe wall 21.

When removal of the accessory hub 10 from the wall 21 is desired, thebutton 36 may be depressed into the bore 43 through an access hole 41.The accessory hub 10 may then be pivoted away from the wall 21 byseparating the ramp 40 away from the wall 21. The second cleat portion38 may then be lifted vertically away from the first cleat portion 24.It is also foreseen that the accessory hub 10 may be attached to thecollet 18 and detached from the collet 18 without an access hole 41. Insuch a configuration, a sharp pivoting action of the accessory hub 10pulling the accessory ramp 40 away from the wall 21 can cause the button36 to automatically retract into the bore 43. Such a configuration wouldfunction much like a ball catch or a roller catch for a door latch. Thespring retainer 34 may also be adjusted to increase or decrease thecompression of the spring 32 to adjust the amount of force needed toseat the button 36 into the receiver 44 and to remove the button 36 fromthe receiver 44.

FIG. 5 shows the under-side of accessory hub 10 where the recess 46 isclearly shown. The second cleat portion 38 is seen extending from thefoundation 8 and into the recess 46. A pair of guides 48 also extendalongside the second cleat portion 38 and ensures proper alignment whena user is attaching the accessory hub 10 to the collet 18 as shown inFIG. 4 for reference. Opposite the second cleat portion 38, the receiver44 receives the button 36 as shown in FIG. 4. The ramp 40 helps move thebutton 36 from the home position to the depressed position as theaccessory hub is mounted to the collet 18. The button 36 may then insertitself into the receiver 44. A pair of guides 42 on the sides of theramp 40 assists the user with proper alignment when the accessory hub 10is being attached to the collet 18.

With respect to FIG. 6, it shows the collet 18 is shown from multiplevantage points. As previously discussed, the collet 18 has a bore 43that accepts the button 36. The collet 18 has a first mounting tab 22and a second mounting tab 20 extending from the body 30 at right anglesfrom one another. The collet 18 could have additional mounting tabs orthe mounting tabs could be shaped differently. The first mounting tab 22includes the first cleat portion 24 which mates with the second cleatportion 38 of the accessory hub 10 as shown in FIG. 4. Once the button36 is inserted into the bore 43, fasteners are placed through the holes26, 28 thereby securing the first mounting tab 22 and second mountingtab 20 to the wall 21 (see FIG. 4), and the first cleat portion 24 ismated with the second cleat portion 38, the collet 18 secures theaccessory hub 10 against the wall against forces in all axes.

FIG. 7 shows detailed views of the spring retainer 34, also shown inFIGS. 2 and 4. The spring retainer includes threads 46 which engagematching threads in the bore 43 of the collet 18. The threads 46 allowthe spring retainer 34 to be adjusted with respect to its positionwithin the bore 43. The adjustability allows a user to change how muchforce is necessary to displace the button 36 along the ramp 40 whenengaging the button 36 with the retainer 44 (see FIG. 4). The button 36protrudes through the through hole 48. A shoulder 49 on the button 36contacts the spring retainer 34 and prevents the button 36 from exitingthe bore 43 through the through hole 48 in the spring retainer 34.

1-20. (canceled)
 21. An accessory mounting device comprising: anaccessory hub having a receiver; a collet configured to be mounted to asurface; a button residing at least partially within the collet, thebutton being movable between a home position and a displaced positionvia a spring; and a ramp adjacent to the receiver configured to guidethe accessory hub to engage with the button; wherein the accessory hubis detached from the collet by depressing the button toward thedisplaced position, and wherein the accessory hub is retained by thecollet when the button depressed to the displaced position is releasedto the home position, thereby protruding into the receiver.
 22. Theaccessory mounting device of claim 21, further comprising a holeextending from one of a plurality of sides of the accessory hub into thereceiver, wherein the button is at least partially accessible throughthe hole.
 23. The accessory mounting device according to claim 21,wherein the accessory hub lacks an access hole extending therethrough.24. The accessory mounting device according to claim 21, wherein thespring within the collet is configured to return the button from thedisplaced position to the home position.
 25. The accessory mountingdevice according to claim 21, further comprising a mounting tabextending from the collet, wherein the mounting tab has a through holeconfigured to receive a fastener thereby securing the collet to thesurface.
 26. The accessory mounting device according to claim 21,further comprising: a bore formed at least partially through the colletconfigured to receive the button; and a spring retainer inserted intothe bore configured to retain the spring and button within the bore. 27.The accessory mounting device according to claim 26, wherein the boreand the spring retainer are each threaded with a complimentary thread,thereby allowing the spring retainer to engage and be retained with thebore.
 28. The accessory mounting device according to claim 1, whereinthe accessory hub is configured to receive a plurality of accessoriesincluding at least one of a towel bar, a towel ring, a soap tray, atissue holder, a tumbler holder, and a robe hook.
 29. The accessorymounting device according to claim 28, wherein the accessory hub isinterchangeable with any one of the accessories.
 30. An accessorymounting device comprising: an accessory hub having a receiver; acollet; a movable button extending from the collet with a home positionand a displaced position, wherein the button is configured to bedisplaced from the home position to the displaced position with a manualdepression and automatically returned to the home position followingtermination of the manual depression, wherein, in the home position, thebutton is engaged with the receiver; a ramp adjacent to the receiverconfigured to guide the accessory hub to engage with the button; and ahole in one of a plurality of sides of the accessory hub, wherein thebutton is at least partially accessible through the hole.
 31. Theaccessory mounting device according to claim 30, wherein the accessoryhub is removed from the collet by depressing the button and wherein theaccessory hub is retained by the collet when A) the button is depressedto the displaced position, B) the collet is inserted into the accessoryhub, and C) the button is released to the home position.
 32. Theaccessory mounting device according to claim 30, further comprising: arear portion with an open and hollow recess on the accessory hub; afirst cleat portion in the open and hollow recess; and a second cleatportion formed on a mounting tab of the collet configured to engage thefirst cleat portion, thereby preventing downward motion of the accessoryhub once engaged and further securing the accessory hub to the collet.33. The accessory mounting device according to claim 32, wherein theaccessory hub is retained by the collet to a wall when A) the button isdepressed to the displaced position, B) the first cleat portion isengaged with the second cleat portion, and C) the button is released tothe home position thereby protruding through the hole.
 34. The accessorymounting device according to claim 30, further comprising: a bore formedat least partially through the collet configured to receive the buttonand a spring; and a spring retainer inserted into the bore configured toretain the spring and button within the bore.
 35. The accessory mountingdevice according to claim 34, wherein the bore and the spring retainerare each threaded with a complimentary thread, thereby allowing thespring retainer to engage and be retained with the bore.
 36. Theaccessory mounting device according to claim 30, wherein the accessoryhub is configured to receive a plurality of accessories including atleast one of a towel bar, a towel ring, a soap tray, a tissue holder, atumbler holder, and a robe hook, and wherein the accessory hub isinterchangeable with any one of the accessories.
 37. An accessorymounting device comprising: an accessory hub having a hub securingportion; a collet configured to be mounted to a surface, the collethaving a collet securing portion configured to mate with the hubsecuring portion, the collet securing portion being a button; wherein,when the accessory hub is connected to the collet, the hub securingportion is removably mated with the collet securing portion, the buttonbeing configured to be displaced from a home position to a displacedposition with a manual depression and automatically returned to the homeposition following termination of the manual depression, and wherein, toseparate the accessory hub from the collet, the collet securing portionis moved without tools to unmate with the hub securing portion.
 38. Theaccessory mounting device according to claim 37, further comprising aramp adjacent to the hub securing portion configured to guide theaccessory hub to engage with the collet.
 39. The accessory mountingdevice according to claim 37, wherein the accessory hub comprises acontinuous foundation and a plurality of sides that taper up from thefoundation, the plurality of sides defining a hollow recess.
 40. Theaccessory mounting device according to claim 37, wherein the accessoryhub is removable from the collet by depressing the button anddisengaging the hub securing portion from the collet securing portion.